Arrests made after 'shot fired from house' hit armed garda during early-morning raid

Arrests made after 'shot fired from house' hit armed garda during early-morning raid

A member of the Emergency Response Unit was shot in the arm

Another person was also injured

Injuries to both men not believed to be life-threatening

Three people have been arrested

GSOC are investigating

Scene of the shooting in Ballymun this morning

Conor Feehan and Independent.ie Newsdesk

December 7 2017 11:05 AM

THREE people have been arrested after an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of ficer was shot during an operation in Ballymun in Dublin this morning.

Early indications are that the garda was shot from inside a property as officers tried to force an entry to a house in the Barnwell area of Ballymun in Dublin.

Scene of the shooting of an ERU Garda in Barnwell Drive in Ballymun this morning

It is understood officers were using an angle grinder to try to gain entry through a reinforced door at the back of a house.

A member of the ERU was shot in the arm as they tried to force their way in. Gardai believe the shots - one of which hit the officer - were fired from the house.

When the gardai gained entr y, there were further shots fired and a man inside the property was shot. He was hit in the shoulder. He is understood to be in his late teens.

A source told Independent.ie that the armed Gardai shot during the raid was âextremely lucky he wasnât hit in the headâ.

Scene of the shooting of an ERU Garda in Barnwell Drive in Ballymun this morning

The source said:âIt is just pure luck that he wasnât hit in the head or neck. This is what you are dealing with these days, dangerous armed criminals who are happy to fire their weapons on anyone, including Gardaiâ¦â

The injuries to the garda and the man are not believed to be lif e-threatening. Both were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

Gardai have confirmed that three people have been arrested in relation to the incident.

Two women and one man, aged in their 30s and 40s, have been arrested.

They are being detained in Clontarf, Swords and Ballymun stations.

The Garda Ombudsman has been notified of the incident because a gun was discharged by a garda member during the planned operation.

In a statement, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: âI learned with concern this morning that a member of An Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na was shot and injured in the course of a Garda operation in North Dublin. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. Incidents like this highlight the danger that can face members of An Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na in carrying out their duties.

"The work of uniformed GardaÃ­ and the special units is critical in keeping people safe and tackling serious criminals whose activities can destroy communities. I acknowledge the good work of An Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na and assure the force of my continued support for its efforts."

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey, who is appearing today at the Oireachtas Justice Committee, noted that a Garda member was "shot in the line of duty" this morning.

He offered the Garda member and his family his best wishes.

Members of the committee echoed those sentiments.

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